Electrical switch mechanism



Nov. 11, 1958` M. J. DoBEs ETAL 2,860,202

ELECTRICAL SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. Z50. 1954 l N V EN TOR MICHAEL J. DoBS & CHAPL E5 Asamk The present' invention relates to electrical switches which yarefadapted'to -bel-ins`talled on the deck ofva ship;-

lin proximity to a winch-and more yparticularl'yto the vcombination of an electrical switch and arr actuating lever VorA handle therefor, ythe outerend of which is shaped to provide-a -guard to prevent manual rotation Aof the winch when-thefhandle'is `moved`to aposition to establish-avv circuit to a'mctor for electrically operatingfthe winch.

'In1 ships provided with life boats, itis the practice to providea Vwinch or hoisty for lowering the life boat into the water'and for raising it from the water to the 'deck lof the ship. -Suchf'winches are usually. operated by an electrical motor which' is connected throughl suitable gear- .--in-g tothe shaft'of-the winch forvquickly raising the boat from the water up ,to-ashort distance from the-deck-of the ship. It is'then the lpractice 'to interrupt the electrical ycircuit to the 'motor and to manually operate the'winch -to;raise thepboat the'remaining-distance. To enable the winch-tobe'manually operated, its shaft-is arranged at a Suitabledistanceabove-the des'k of the ship and is vproyvided-'withaportion whichproje'cts from the frame of vthe winchto'which -is appliedvaheavy crank having an angularly-shapedfrec'ess at one end yfor engaging ythe shaft andeafhandle'atitsotherend tobeengaged by the operator.

lIn such Winches,"it'-is essential-that the circuit to the Amotor vvshall' bevv interrupted, during manual opera- Vtion -of=the winch, to preventaccidental operation of the motorand resultant swinging of the hand which would cause serious injury to the operator. In prior practice,

v anelectrical switch vsupported on a frame extending from the winch was provided'for establishing and'interrupting the circuit to the motor. In the switch utilized in prior practice, the stationaryv and movable contacts of the switch were normally maintainedin spaced relation by coil springs.

gaged a plunger extending through one end of a' housing for'the switch tofcompress `the coil springs and the force of the compressed sprin-gscaused the movable contacts to engage Vthestationary contacts to establish a circuit to the motor, -when the bar was moved to a p'osition in y,which its other end constituted a guard or blocking meansfor the'shaft of'the winch. When the bar was returned to its inactive or idle position, thecoil-spri'ngs forced the movable contacts from engagement `with`the stationary contacts to interrupt the circuit tothemotor.

Such structure, however, has many disadvantages. For instance, when the bar is moved to its operative position infwhich it blocks manual operationof the winch,\the actuation of the lswitch isdependent upon the force of coil springsfto establish the circuitto the motor and when the bar is moved toits idle'or inactive position, thev interruption of the circuit to the motorV depends upon the force ofthe coil springs acting against the inner end of the plunger.- It is of course well known that coil springs age in servicey and lose their resiliency. The

lThe switch was 'actuated by meansv of a bar y pivotally mounted-onthe-frame, one end'of which ennited States Patent 2,860,202 Patented Nov-.11, 1958 metalhof the switch housing surrounding theplunger and particularly V.severev when they are subject to salt water sprays. In such structure, the danger is always present that the plunger-of the switch will temporarily stick and fail to interruptfthe circuit to the motor when the guard is movedto its idle position.

In accordance with the 'present invention, a switch housing is provided vfor the movable and stationary con- 1 .l tacts Vofva switch and a lever or handle arranged outside ofthe vswitch housing and connected to-the movable switch parts is provided for positively actuating the movable switch parts to establish a circuit to the motorwhen the handle is moved in one direction and for'positively actuating the movable switch parts to interrupt thefcircuit to the motor when 'the handle is moved inthe opposite direction. In the improved switch structure'of the present invention, the switch housing is so constructed that fit may-be readilysecured to the deck or'a frame on thevshipsinproximity'toa winch. The protruding shaft of-said winch `is arranged above the deck of the ship so 'thatl it may be readily accessible for manual operation, and the handle and the movable contacts of the switch'are so-arranged, when the handle is in its lower position, the movable contacts of the switch being in spaced relation to thestationary contacts of the switch, to establish a circuit-to the motor. In the present switch construction, the 4handle or lever-of the switch is of sufcient length and is, provided at its outer end with a guardor blocking means which extendsin front of the shaft ofthe winch to preventapplication of' a crank thereto when the movableA contacts engage the stationary contacts of the switch to establisha circuit to the motor. A locking pin is associated with thefhandle and the switch housing and prevents movement of the switch handle between itsdifferent`positions -prior'to the removal of Vthe lockingpin. l`Interruption of the circuit to the motor must therefore occur before the crank isapplied to the winch for manual operation and the dangerto workmen during manual operation of the winch is eliminated. A

It istherefore an object of the present invention to provide an impro-ved switch structure including a housing for the stationary and movable switch parts which housing is adapted to be secured to the deck of a ship in proximity to a winch, and in which a lever or handle arranged outside of the housing is provided forpositively actuating the movable parts of the switch to a position in which an electrical circuit is established to the motor for electrically operating the winch when the handle is moved toone position, andv for actuating the movable parts of thefswitch to a seco-nd position in which the circuit to the motor is interrupted when the handle is moved to a second'pos'ition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved switch structure including a housing for protectingthe stationary and movable contacts of the switch fr`om` corrosion which housing is adapted to be secured "toa' shipin proximity to a winch and in which a lever or'fhandle'arranged outside of the switch is connected to Y'the' movable' parts of the switch and is movable in one Adirection tointerr'upt'the circuitto the motor and in the 'opposite direction toestablish a circuit to the motor and in which blocking means associated with lever or handle is -p'rov'idedfor preventing application of a crank to the shaft of the winch when thehandle is moved in a directiont'o establish a circuit to the motor.

:5A further object of the invention is to provide an improved switch structure including a housing for the stationary and movable parts of the switch which housing is adaptedy to'be Vsecured to the deck of a ship in proximity to alwinchhaving a shaft projecting above the deck Vof the`ship and which a lever or handle connectedto the movablejp'arts of the switch is arranged outside ofthe reduced portion of shaft 21 extends.

:switch housing and is movable from a raised position to a substantially horizontal position along side of the housing to interrupt the circuit to the motor and from a substantially horizontal position to a lsubstantially vertical position to establish a circuit to the motor and -in which the lever or handle is provided with a guard which extends in front of the projecting shaft of the winch to prevent application of a crank to the shaft of the when the handle is in'its vertical position.V

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the switch strucwinch ture, showing the handle in full lines in a substantially horizontal position and in dotted lines in a substantially vertical position; Y

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a plan view of the switch and the housing therefor with the cover of the housing removed; and

Fig. 4 isa cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the switch structure includes a casing or housing 1 and a cover 2. Arranged Within the housing are a pair of stationary contacts 3 and 4 and a second pair of contacts 5 and 6 which are movable into and from engagement with the stationary contacts by means of a handle or lever 7 arranged outside of the housing which handle is provided with a guard or blocking means 8 at its outer end. l The stationary contacts 3 and 4 are maintained n` spaced relation to each other and to the bottom'of the housing by suitable means, such asa pair vof spaced supports 9 and y1t) formed of electrical insulating material.

from'rthe bottom of the housing adjacent the opposite side Jwall by means of a bolt 13.

kAs shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the stationary contacts consists of an angularly-shaped base 14 and a pair of resilient arms 15 and 16 which may be formed integral with the base or secured thereto by suitable means, such as welding. A screw 17 is provided which extends through the support 9 and one arm of the bracket and a second screw 18 extends through the other arm of the contacts are arranged in spaced relation to each other to receive between them one of the movable contacts. threaded bolt 19 for each pair of arms is provided which extends' through apertures in the arms and is provided with an adjustable nut 19a. To enable the conductors to be led into and from the terminal posts, the housing is provided with a threaded outlet opening 20 into which a suitable conduit pipe, not shown, may be threaded.

Means are also provided to support the movable contacts and to rotate them in a position in which one of the movable contacts is forced between the resilient arms of stationary contact 3 and the other movable contact is forced between the resilient arms of stationary contact 4. For this purpose, a shaft 21 is provided, one end of which is journalled in a recess 22 in one side wall 23 of the switch housingy and the other end of which extends through an opening inthe opposite side wall 24 of the housing. Means is provided to seal the opening and pro- A vide a bearing for the shaft. For this purpose, the inner extends through an aperture in one end of a lever or handle 7. The cap 27 may be secured to the side wall 24 of the housing by suitable means, such as cap screws 29.

To positively effect rotation of the shaft within the housing during movement of the handle, means are provided to securely mount the handle on the shaft. A cap screw is threaded into the end of the shaft 21 and engages a washer 3S arranged between the head 34 ofthe screw and the side of the lever. The handle has a split portion 36 adjacentY oneiside of shaft 21 and a 'threaded screw 39 which may be threaded into the body ofthe lever to draw the split portions of the handle toward each other and clamp the shaft.

As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, means are provided on shaft 21 to support the movable contacts. For this purpose, the portion of the shaft within the housing is substantially rectangular .in shape as indicated by the numeral 40. A'rotor 42 is disposed on the shaft and is provided with outwardly extending recesses 41 at its corners to enable it to provide a close lit with the shaft. The rotor is molded of insulating material and has embedded therein a plate 43 formed of conductive metal, the opposite ends of which -v .cover 2 is secured to the upper side walls of the housing As shown, support 9 is secured to a boss 11 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the housing adjacent one .side wall by means of a bolt 12 and in a like manner support 10 is secured to a boss 11a extending upwardly by suitable means, such as'cap screws 45 which pass through a suitable sealing gasket 46. l

Means is associated with the cover and the handlefor maintaining the handle in its lowerv horizontal positlon. For this purpose, the cover 2 is provided with an upwardlyv extending boss or projection 47 having' an'apertr'e48 l therein. The inner portion of the handle is also provided with a projection 49 having an aperture'50 therein which is in alignment with aperture 48 when the handle is in its horizontal position as shownV in Figs. 3 and 4' and in fulllines in Fig. l. A pin 51 is provided which extends through the aligned apertures 48 and 50.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the switch is adapted to be secured to the deck of a ship adjacent a winch, `a fragmentary portion of the frame of which isindicated by the numeral 52, and as shown, the winch is provided with a shaft 53 having an angularly-shaped end portion for receiving a crank for manual operation. For securing the switch housing to the deck of the ship, the bottom wall of the housing is provided with an extension 54 having a pair of apertures 55 therein and the opposite end of .the housing is provided with a foot 56 having an aperture 57, through which apertures, bolts or screws may be inserted for fastening the housing to the deck ,of a ship.

When it is desired to actuate the switch to a position in which a circuit is established to electrically operate the motor, pin 51 is removed from the aligned apertures 4S and 5t) in the cover and the handle is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. When the handle is rotated in a.clockwise direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, contacts 5 and 6 are also rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow A in Fig. 4 and contacts 5 and 6 are moved between the resilent'arms 15 and 16 of stationary contacts 3V and 4, respectively, to Vestablish a circuit to the motor for electrically operating the winch. When the lever or handle 7 is moved to a substantially vertical position, the guard or blocking means 8 is arranged in front of the angularlyshaped end portion of shaft 53 of the winch to prevent manual operation of the Winch.

The handle is also provided with an additional opening 58 which is arranged in alignment with the opening 48 in the boss 47 of the cover when the handle` is in its vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in

which case 51 may be inserted through'the aligned openings 58 and 48 to maintain the `switch in position to establish a circuit to the motor for electrically operating the winch and for preventing the application of the crank to the winch shaft.

When it is desired to interrupt the circuit to the motor, pin 51 is withdrawn from apertures 58 and 48 and the handle is moved to the full line position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 at which time the circuit to the motor is interrupted and access is provided to shaft 53 to manually rotate the winch. At this time, aperture 50 in the handle is in alignment with aperture 48 in the boss 47 of the cover, and the pin 51 may be inserted through the aligned openings to lock the handle in its horizontal position.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a switch which is fully protected from the elements and one wherein the mechanism is greatly simplified and which is positive in its operation. Its simplicity makes it easily installed and economical to manufacture. Since there are no springs to rust, corrode or fatigue it is capable of an extremely long life without need for service. Since the operation is positive both on opening and closing there is no danger due to a circuit -being closed when it should be open. Furthermore since the operating lever also acts as a protective guard against the installation of a handle on a winch when the switch is closed it eliminates the danger of the motor circuit being energized when the manual hand crank is in position. inasmuch as the operating hand is directly connected to the movable switch contacts there is no lost motion and the contacts may be quickly engaged and disengaged. This structure also lends to a compactness which also increases its versatility of installation.

Having thus described our invention we are aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the structure shown without departing from the spirit of the invention as is set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

A switch comprising a housing which defines a chamber, a rotor of insulation material rotatably mounted in said chamber, a pair of fixed contacts mounted in said chamber at one side of the rotor and spaced apart from each other lengthwise of the rotor, each of said fixed contacts comprising a pair of resilient contact arms in closely positioned confronting relationship to each other, each of said contact arms projecting toward the rotor and terminating in a free end spaced from the periphery of the rotor, a metal plate embedded in the rotor and extending lengthwise of the rotor and having out-turned ends which project out beyond the periphery of the rotor transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor and which constitute mobile contacts, said mobile contacts being spaced apart lengthwise of the rotor a distance corresponding to the spacing between the fixed contacts and being aligned with the fixed contacts to engage between the arms of the respective fixed contacts when the rotor is turned, a handle outside the chamber connected to the rotor at one side of the housing and extending transverse to the axis of rotation of the rotor, said handle being mounted to extend horizontal along said one side of the housing to position the rotor with said mobile contacts projecting down from the rotor land spaced from said fixed contacts, said handle being movable from said horizontal position up to a vertical position to turn the rotor to carry said mobile contacts up into engagement between the respective arms of the fixed contacts, and a guard on said handle away from the connection of the handle to the rotor, said guard extending transverse to the handle and extending across an end of the housing when the handle is horizontal and extending across the top of the housing when the handle is vertical.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,655 Buchanan May 27, 1919 1,785,194 Hammerly Dec. 16, 1930 1,795,641 Dante Mar. 10, 1931 1,872,249 Corbett Aug. 16, 1932 2,404,153 Wilhelm July 16, 1946 2,651,698 Gracey Sept, 8, 1953 2,727,953 Wilhelm Dec. 20, 1955 

